The Flywheel

Program for August 29Th, 2008

The Peace Corps Today

Raleigh Ellisen from the Peace Corps,
talks about the evolution and current status of the Peace
Corps including your ‘second chance’ to
join the Peace Corps. Yep, if you missed the Peace
Corps in the ’60s, now’s your chance to
join in your 60s.

Raleigh will discuss he and his wife’s
experience as retired come Peace Corps teachers in
the Fiji Islands.

MEETING OF August 15th, 2008

Welcome, Invocation, Thought for the Day

President Mark Howe called the meeting
to order and asked Virginia Finley of
Signature Realty to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Mark
then asked for a moment of silence in honor of former
members of the Richmond City Council Richard Griffin
and Charles Belcher, who each passed-away this week. Josh
Genser then provided us with a joke that I may
not repeat in writing.

Rotarians with Guests

Sunshine Report

Bill Koziol said Elof Granberg is
in the hospital. John Nichol and Werner
Schwarz went to visit him and they said Elof
should be returning home soon.

Announcements

Hank Covell invited everyone to
our annual dinner/theater fundraiser at Hotel MAC and
The Masquers Playhouse which will be Thursday,
September 18th. $40. Dinner
at 6 pm. Contact Hank for reservations. The
play will be the “Petrified Forest.”

Come and join Richmond Rotarians at the A’s
game – Friday night, September 19th. Rafael
Madrigal has $30 tickets the price includes
great seats and “all-you-can-eat” privileges. What
a deal.

David Brown reminded everyone to
pay their club dues.

Mark announced that the District is hosting a Paul
Harris Foundation Seminar at the Fairfield Hilton on
September 2nd. If you would like to attend and
car pool with others, please give him a call.

It is the “Ghosts of Winehaven” for
the October 31st Rotary meeting. We’ll
meet in Point Molate at 12 noon to share in the “Witches
Winehaven Brew,” have lunch, hear about the history
of Winehaven, enjoy the Wine Auction and tour both
the historic Winehaven building and the Wine Master’s
Cottage. This is a fundraiser for the Richmond
Rotary’s Peace Project. Invite all
of your friends and family and Rotarians from other
clubs. Dress-up for Halloween. $35

Special Events

(e.g., Paul Harris awards, new member induction, etc.)

Recognitions

Pam Wilson called upon John Nichol… she
said she heard John call someone else “Babe” (and
she was crushed.) As a result, Pam presented John
with two real coconuts as a remembrance of the “Touch
My Coconuts” theme of by-gone days.
In celebration of his 48th Wedding Anniversary, Mike
Winters presented a check to the Paul Harris
Foundation. Thanks Mike.

Happy and Sad Dollars

Herb Cole had some happy dollars
from Glenn Daggs. It seems Glenn
had called Herb. Glenn said he would miss
Rotary this week since he will be “working on
his suntan.” Glenn is cruising the seas
his family.

Earle Brown had some happy dollars
and began with “I have a short story….” Well,
Judy Morgan, was standing and waiting to contribute
some happy dollars too, so she said “I’d
better sit down.” She sat down & everyone
laughed. Anyway, Earle’s happy dollars
celebrated the founding of the Richmond Boys and Girls
Club this week in 1952.

Josh Genser had happy dollars for
his annual vacation to Massachusetts to visit with
his wife Elaina’s family. He also
passed around fund raising raffle tickets for the El
Cerrito High School-Class of 2009 Grad Night. Wow,
what an organized class

Judy Morgan’s happy dollars
gave her a chance to share more “news” about
the Home Front Festival by the Bay. Channel 2-KTVU
will join in advertising/sponsoring the event, as are
the BNSF and Union Pacific Railroads. Mark your
calendars for October 4th & October 5th,
and if you've still got some swing in them bones, October
3rd for the fabulous
USO Dance.

Jim Young’s happy dollars
included a thank you to the new & returning group
of Flywheel editors. He encouraged others to
join in…. the more the merrier.

Rafael Cartagena has returned from
a Rotarian trip to his native El Salvador. He presented
our club with the Rotary flag from the San Salvador’s
Club #4240. Rafael took hundreds of
artificial hands to distribute to the children
of El Salvador in coordination San Salvador’s
club. Other Club #4240 partnership projects
include one with Los Angeles CA clubs called “Bags
for Kids.” This year the those clubs
will distribute more than 11,000 bags filled with school
supplies to children in San Salvador.

Sid Chauvin’s happy dollars
were presented in celebration of the next “Rotary
Reno Trip” which is scheduled for January
25-26, 2009. Outstanding News!

THE PROGRAM

Dealing with the Drought

Jim Levine of the Upstream Point Molate,
LLC, provided an overview of the plans for, the process
being followed and the timetable for the redevelopment
of the old Naval Fuel Depot into a 5-Star Destination
Resort. Jim’s presentation outlined the process
which began 3 ½ years ago when the City of Richmond
selected the Upstream/Guidiville Indian Tribe Team to
revitalize the 400 acre site.
Based on the City’s previous Blue Ribbon Task Force
recommendations, the team was tasked to refine, finance & implement
a viable project.

The 5 major goals/requirements that the City set for
the project are: 1) develop a regional destination; 2)
institute economic development & jobs for Richmond;
3) financial sustainability; 4) shoreline protection;
and 5) contribute financial resources for other areas
of Richmond. The project will also provide members
of the Guidiville Tribe housing, a cultural center, government
facilities and an economic foundation.
The resort will include 1) hotels & a medium size
conference center; 2) retail stores ; 3) a casino; 4)
outdoor recreation and family attractions; 6) educational
programs; 7) numerous transit linkages including shuttles
to BART, inclusion of the Bay Trail and ferry service
to San Francisco; and 8) ecological & environmental
sustainability programs.

The exterior of the historic Winehaven building will
be revitalized and the 19 historic Winehaven cottages
will be restored to there original c1908 condition and
used as suites for hotel guests. Multi-approvals
from federal, state, district, county and city departments
and agencies are still needed. It is expected that
the Navy will transfer the property to the city in December
2008, the final 32.5 million dollar cleanup/remediation
of the site is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2010. The
resort ground breaking & construction is scheduled
for 2011 & 2012 with the opening planned in 1213.